THOUSAND OAKS — Todd Gurley didn’t do much in the Super Bowl and apparently is done talking about it.

As the Rams cleaned out their lockers Tuesday at Cal Lutheran and did exit interviews, a team official stood beside Gurley and announced he would not be available for comment. Gurley’s knee, and lack of playoff usage, have dominated nationwide chatter since the end of the Rams’ 13-3 loss to New England on Sunday.

Gurley spoke fairly extensively immediately after the game and reiterated that his knee – which caused him to sit out the final two regular-season games – was fine. If so, that removes the only reasonable explanation for why he touched the ball only 11 times Sunday, when the Rams ran 65 plays.

Coach Sean McVay explained Tuesday that his pregame plan had been for a “shared load” among Gurley and backup C.J. Anderson. McVay said that the Patriots’ strong defense limited the Rams’ play totals and “drive continuity” and said, “When it doesn’t work out the way you want, there’s always that element of second-guessing.”

McVay was asked directly if there were plans for any medical procedures on Gurley’s knee.

“No,” McVay said. “We haven’t talked about any of those things right now. I’ll get a chance to sit down with Reggie (Scott, the Rams’ director of sports medicine) and we’ll discuss that, but as far as I’m concerned and as far as I know, that isn’t the case, where we’re planning to do anything like that.”

Rams players underwent physical exams Tuesday, but Gurley declined to discuss his, or share further thoughts about a Super Bowl in which he totaled 34 yards from scrimmage.

“He’s a player, just like every one of us,” quarterback Jared Goff said Tuesday. “For whatever reason, it wasn’t as good as I’m sure he wanted it to be. He’s hard on himself but we love him and in my opinion he’s the best running back in the league and I’m excited to see him move forward and continue his career.”

Rams guard Rodger Saffold expressed similar sentiments about Gurley and theorized that taking two weeks off could put a running back “into those funks” because of a lack of regular repetitions, but assuming Gurley’s knee truly wasn’t a hindrance, this really isn’t about Gurley.

After his late-season hiatus, Gurley returned for the divisional-round playoff game against Dallas and looked sharp, with 18 touches for 118 yards. After the NFC championship game, in which Gurley had only five touches and 13 yards, McVay pledged Gurley would have a major role in the Super Bowl.

Not exactly. Gurley was on the field for only 43 of the Rams’ 65 offensive plays, and had 10 carries for 35 yards and one catch for a loss of one yard. It was difficult to get a read on Gurley’s effectiveness, because the Patriots also played excellent defense, but Gurley made a nice cut on a 16-yard run in the second half.

Sign up for Home Turf and get exclusive stories every SoCal sports fan must read, sent daily. Subscribe here.

Even though the Rams’ pass game was stifled, and Goff looked unsettled by the Patriots’ defensive scheme, the Rams passed the ball more than twice as many times as they ran it.

The Rams apparently had the strategy to rotate Gurley and Anderson, even though Anderson’s strength is running the ball up the middle. That’s also the strength of New England’s run defense and, not surprisingly, Anderson gained only 22 yards on seven carries against the Patriots.

DECISION TIME

Saffold, the Rams’ longest-tenured player, is set to become an unrestricted free agent next month and said “of course” he would want to return, but also said he would be looking for a “fair” contract.

Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, linebacker Dante Fowler and safety Lamarcus Joyner also have the ability to leave, as does Anderson, who echoed Saffold’s thoughts.

“Of course,” Anderson said. “It’s a business, though. Who knows how this business will go, but I definitely like what they do here. It’s fun. It’s competitive. Good organization, good coaches, good staff. If the cards allow it, I’ll be here. If not, I’ll go have fun somewhere else.”

ANOTHER LEVEL?

Aaron Donald, who won the NFL’s defensive player of the year award for a second consecutive season Saturday, called the honor a “blessing” but otherwise didn’t dwell on it much.

In a statement that could cause night terrors for opposing offensive lineman, Donald – who led the NFL with 20.5 sacks this season – said he’s not satisfied, professionally or personally.

“There’s always ways you can improve your game,” Donald said. “That’s just my mindset. Never allow yourself to be satisfied or comfortable. As long as I stay like that, stay hungry, I’ll be fine. I’m definitely going to come back next year better than I was.”

Rich Hammond was a high school senior when the Rams left town in 1995, and now he's their beat writer for the Southern California News Group. A native of L.A., Rich broke in at the Daily Breeze as a college freshman and also has covered USC, the Kings, the Lakers and the Dodgers. He still loves sports and telling stories. Don't take the sarcastic tweets too seriously.